Chiricahua Peak

San Simon, Arizona

Topping out at nearly 10,000 feet, the Chiricahuas are the second-highest mountain range in southeastern Arizona. Despite their lofty status, however, reaching the summit is a relatively simple task, thanks to the Crest Trail. In just 5 miles of mostly easy grades this hike will put you on top of 9,796-foot Chiricahua Peak.
Unfortunately, much of the Crest Trail was greatly affected by two major forest ?res. First in 1994 the 27,500-acre Rattlesnake Fire swept across portions of the mountain range. Then in 2011 the 223,000-acre Horseshoe II Fire added insult to injury. Although this devastation has resulted in charred stands of dead timber and a lot of dead-fall across the trail, it has also opened up some nice vistas of the surrounding basin-and-range topography.

"Topping out at nearly 10,000 feet, the Chiricahuas are the second-highest mountain range in southeastern Arizona. Despite their lofty status, however, reaching the summit is a relatively simple task, thanks to the Crest Trail. In just 5 miles of mostly easy grades this hike will put you on top of 9,796-foot Chiricahua Peak.

Unfortunately, much of the Crest Trail was greatly affected by two major forest ?res. First in 1994 the 27,500-acre Rattlesnake Fire swept across portions of the mountain range. Then in 2011 the 223,000-acre Horseshoe II Fire added insult to injury. Although this devastation has resulted in charred stands of dead timber and a lot of dead-fall across the trail, it has also opened up some nice vistas of the surrounding basin-and-range topography."